balayage

[ bah-ley-ahzh ]

noun

1. a hair highlighting technique in which dye is painted onto the hair to lighten it in a natural-looking way.

Word History and Origins

Origin of balayage¹

First recorded in 1975–80; from French: literally, “sweeping,” derivative of verb balayer, from Middle French, Old French balaier, derivative of French balai, from Old French balei, baleis “a broom, brush,” alteration (influenced by balier, baloier “to move about excitedly”) of Late Latin ballāre “to dance”; ball ²( def )

Example Sentences

If fettuccine or linguine are boxed hair dye, pappardelle is balayage.

From Salon

Her mind seethes with what she calls her “midlife misogyny” — watching other women capitulate or, worse, try to outpace age on their yoga mats, with their ash-blond balayage highlights.

From New York Times

You can transition to gray hair with lowlights or a balayage treatment, for example.

From Washington Post

The woman -- first name Caitlin -- went viral after her stylist, Steph Carrillo, the owner of Modest Spot Salon in Orange County, Calif., shared an Instagram picture of her with an updated hairstyle featuring a partial balayage and shag haircut, with many commenters saying the mom of one looks like Jennifer Aniston.

From Fox News

“I needed it to not look like a balayage, or a contemporary chunky highlight. It was very delicate. There was a diffusion so it wouldn’t look skunk-like.”

From Los Angeles Times